Wake schools will keep searching for high school site

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Raleigh, N.C. — Wake County commissioners and school board members have decided to keep looking for the site of what will be the county's largest high school.

Leaders want to consider two sites in Raleigh – on Ligon Mill Road and at the intersection of Lewisberry and Mitchell Mill roads – and two in Rolesville – at Louisbury Road and U.S. Highway 401 and on Catlett Farm Road.

Those sites are in addition to a proposed site at 2628 Forestville Road for the school, tentatively called Forest Ridge High School.

That location has caused a stir among nearby residents who have said they are concerned about traffic and the impact on their community.

County commissioners have also expressed concern about cost overruns in planning the school for that location. This summer, school officials put the price of necessary road work at least $7.4 million, $5.7 million more than the system budgeted.

Proposals on the new sites are expected next month.

The school system has looked at nearly 40 sites for the $74 million high school. Under the current plan, it is expected to open in 2012 and to hold more than 2,200 students

Some school and county officials have expressed concerns about not taking advantage of cheaper construction costs. Not moving forward on the Forestville Road site, they have said, could mean the county and school system paying more later.

cary1969Nov 19, 2009

james27613Nov 18, 2009

If office buildings, hotels, home depot, etc can be built with precast concrete construction, why not our schools ?

Reduce the size of student parking and use that land forexpanded building and athletic fields.

Students can ride the bus, allow only Jr and Sr to haveparking at the school.

Bulldog22Nov 18, 2009

but if you look at the proposed building on the WCPSS website it appears to be proposed at least 3 levels if not 4.

rand321Nov 18, 2009

The delays have already added millions to teh cost in higher construction costs from several years ago. We are cheaper now, but higher than when planning started.

Please do not put any schools directly onto a major road. they cause enough traffic jams as it is and are not safe for students.

Bulldog22Nov 18, 2009

faceman, wouldn't that create additional expense to make a multi-story school handicap/wheelcahir accessible? I don't know but I think it would. Also, I remember in school alot of "fights" starting in stairwells. I think the single level school is more of a safety measure.

FacemanNov 18, 2009

maybe they should build schools with more than one floor

Bulldog22Nov 18, 2009

Also the currently proposed site is just over 80 acres.

Bulldog22Nov 18, 2009

I am not understanding why the Mayors of Garner and Apex deserve final say on a school in Northern Wake County as you state superman. please elaborate.

supermanNov 18, 2009

I really hope that in all this consideration and planning that they remember to consult the mayor of Garner and Apex. They deserve the last word. They also should remember that an estimate is an estimate. The longer they wait the more expensive the land and the construction costs will be. A site of 20 to 30 acres or whatever acreage they looking for will not be cheap anyway in Wake County.